Unveiling the Potential of Calcium and Natamycin for Botrytis Blight Management on Cut Roses

Botrytis blight caused by the fungus Botritys cinerea is the most devastating disease of cut roses. The extensive use of fungicides used for Botrytis blight management during cut rose production and postharvest represents a severe threat in terms of fungicide resistance development as has been previously reported. Additionally, health concerns for growers and the environment are growing in recent years making consumers more aware of the fungicides in the products that they consume including ornamentals. This scenario highlights the importance of searching for alternative products to synthetic fungicides. During this research, the use of calcium as an alternative management strategy was evaluated when used as a flower spray during greenhouse production (0, 500, 1000, and 1500 mg.L-1) or as a postharvest treatment (0, 1000, and 2000 mg.L-1, with and without coadjuvant). Additionally, natamycin postharvest dips alone and in combination with coadjuvant and calcium were assessed. Our results show that calcium sprays during production reduced Botrytis blight severity when applied at 500 and 1000 mg.L-1, but these spray applications did not result in an increase in the calcium concentration in the petal tissue. Postharvest calcium dip treatments at 2000 mg.L-1 were effective to decrease botrytis blight severity, increase calcium concentration in the petal tissue, increase the petal tissue to rupture, and were involved in the regulation of metabolic pathways involved in the activation of disease resistance mechanisms. Natamycin dips appear to be effective for several cultivars when applied at 500 mg.L-1.However, the best response was obtained when applied in mixtures with calcium. These two products used alone or in combination can provide an additional tool for an integrated disease management program which at the same time helps implementing effective fungicide resistance management strategies to reduce fungicide resistance development by potentially decreasing the amount of fungicide applications required in the greenhouses and during the postharvest of cut-roses

Motherhood redefined: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the lived experiences of lesbian mothers and the sociopolitical conflicts that shape their narratives

This study explored the lives of lesbian mothers with children conceived through insemination or the adoption process in an effort to understand the conflicts they encountered along their journey to motherhood and how they managed those conflicts. The qualitative study included in-depth interviews conducted with six participants. The participants’ ages ranged between 25-60 years old. Interview results were analyzed to explore participants’ narratives in regards to their experiences, relationships, identities and transformation into motherhood. This research highlights significant ongoing developments in the field of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) studies and seeks to intersect the boundaries between interpersonal and sociopolitical conflicts with the phenomena of lesbian-mothered families. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, this research provides a contribution to the interdisciplinary field of conflict resolution with a focus on the central research question: What is the common experience shared among lesbian mothers in their transformation to motherhood? The key findings of this study interrelate with themes of interpersonal conflict, role conflict, and sociopolitical conflict. The conclusions contribute to the field of conflict analysis and resolution, expand upon recent developments on LGBT family systems, and suggest new areas for further examination from the perspective of conflict analysis scholarship

The Of?p stars of the Magellanic Clouds: Are they strongly magnetic?

All known Galactic Of?p stars have been shown to host strong, organized, magnetic fields. Recently, five Of?p stars have been discovered in the Magellanic Clouds. They posses photometric \citep{Naze} and spectroscopic \citep{Walborn} variability compatible with the Oblique Rotator Model (ORM). However, their magnetic fields have yet to be directly detected. We have developed an algorithm allowing for the synthesis of photometric observables based on the Analytic Dynamical Magnetosphere (ADM) model of \citet{Owocki}. We apply our model to OGLE photometry in order to constrain their magnetic geometries and surface dipole strengths. We predict that the field strengths for some of these candidate extra-Galactic magnetic stars may be within the detection limits of the FORS2 instrument.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure